Food package

ABSTRACT

A food package comprising a sealed flexible pouch and a utensil, the pouch containing one or more food items. The inferior of the pouch is depleted of oxygen, and the one or more food items are held in substantially fixed positions within the pouch. The food package is resealable after opening.

The present disclosure relates to the packaging of foods and/or othernon-food items such as medical items, and in particular, although notnecessarily, to vacuum-packaged fruit and other food items that mayspoil quickly if exposed to the atmosphere.

It is widely known that daily consumption of fruit and vegetables isimportant for a healthy diet. However, fruit and vegetables typicallyhave a short shelf-life compared to other foods, and it is perhaps forthis reason that junk-food such as crisps and chocolate is oftenover-consumed, whereas many people do not consume as many portions offruit and vegetables as is advised.

Prepared fruit is often sold in supermarkets in plastic cartons or bags.However, fruit in these packets often spoils after two to five days.Peeled bananas are known to spoil particularly quickly, and so bananasare often not sold ready-prepared in plastic cartons or bags.

Furthermore, meeting the requirement for fruit or vegetables to be onthe shelf of the supermarket as quickly as possible from the time theyare picked or harvested is expensive and consequently the retail pricesof fruit and vegetables are high relative to food that has a longershelf-life.

Fruit and vegetables are not typically sold in vending machines. This isdue not only to the short shelf-life of fruit, but also to the fact thatas fruit is dispensed from a vending machine and falls to the collectionarea, the fruit may become bruised or otherwise damaged.

There exists a requirement for a means of packaging and selling fruit,vegetables and other food items that may spoil quickly, that extends theshelf-life of the food product and helps to prevent damage to the foodproduct. It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to providea packaging for food items that meets this requirement and overcomes orsubstantially mitigates other disadvantages associated with conventionalpackaging of food items.

We disclose a food package comprising a sealed flexible pouch and autensil, the pouch containing one or more food items, wherein theinterior of the pouch is depleted of oxygen, and the one or more fooditems are held in substantially fixed positions within the pouch,wherein the food package is resealable after opening.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may contain the utensil held in asubstantially fixed position within the pouch.

We disclose a food package comprising a sealed flexible pouch, the pouchcontaining one or more food items and a utensil,

-   -   wherein the pouch is substantially evacuated of air, whereby the        one or more food items and the utensil are held in substantially        fixed positions within the pouch.

We disclose a food package comprising a sealed flexible pouch, the pouchcontaining one or more food items and a utensil,

-   -   wherein the interior of the pouch is depleted of oxygen, and the        one or more food items and the utensil are held in substantially        fixed positions within the pouch.

The package according to this disclosure is advantageous primarily inthat, because the interior of the pouch is substantially evacuated ofair/depleted of oxygen, the shelf life of the food items containedwithin the pouch is extended. This enables the packaging to be used forfood items that would otherwise have too short a shelf life to be usedin, for instance, vending machines or airline catering. In particular,the package may contain fresh fruit items. Depletion of oxygen from theinterior of the pouch means that the amount of oxygen in contact withthe one or more food items is reduced relative to that which would bethe case if the food item(s) were simply exposed to the normalatmosphere. In particular, the quantity of oxygen in contact with thefood item(s) should be reduced sufficiently that the shelf life of thefood item(s) is prolonged to a satisfactory degree. This may be broughtabout by evacuation of air from the pouch before it is sealed, and/or byflushing with an inert gas, eg nitrogen or carbon dioxide, prior tosealing. In the former case, the amount of air (and hence oxygen) incontact with the food item(s) is reduced. In the latter case, theconcentration of oxygen in the gas in contact with the food item(s) isreduced.

Evacuation of air from within the pouch has the advantage of drawing thewalls of the pouch together, captivating the food items and the utensilbetween those walls and holding the food items and the utensil insubstantially fixed positions. In addition to being used to remove thefood items from the pouch after the pouch has been opened, the utensilprovides physical protection to the food items, helping to protect themfrom damage, for instance when the package falls into the collectionarea of a vending machine.

Preferably, the utensil is disposed within the pouch adjacent to the oneor more food items.

The pouch preferably comprises first and second films that are sealedtogether at their periphery. The films may be films of plasticsmaterial, preferably food-grade plastics materials. Alternatively, thefilms may be metal foils or plastics/metal laminates. Other packagingfilms may also be suitable. Appropriate materials for the pouch includeany materials conventionally used in the manufacture of airtight,flexible packaging, especially for packaging of foodstuffs, and suitablematerials will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The juxtaposed surfaces of the first and second films may have a dimpledor uneven texture, or may be laser-etched. This reduces the tendency ofthe films to cohere when they are brought together by evacuation of airfrom within the pouch, and thereby facilitates separation of the films(and hence removal of the food items) after the pouch has been opened.

The utensil is preferably a rigid component, for instance of rigidplastics material. Other materials may be used, for instance metal orwood, but plastics are preferred in most instances, not least on thegrounds of cost.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the utensil takes the form of aculinary utensil by which the one or more food items may be removed fromthe package after the package has been opened in use.

The utensil may have any suitable form, eg a fork, spoon, cocktailstick, chopstick or chopsticks. In many instances, the utensil ispreferably a fork.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may comprise a base with a firstcorner and a top with a second corner diagonally opposite the firstcorner, wherein respective ends of the utensil may be configured toengage with the first and second corners to reinforce the food package.The second corner may be formed by an edge of the pouch and a sealingstrip that extends across the pouch. Thereby, the utensil may becontained in a body portion of the pouch under the sealing strip.

It is particularly preferred that the utensil has a shaft with alongitudinal bore. Such a longitudinal bore may be developed for usewith a pouch that is evacuated of air, such as a vacuum packedembodiment of the present disclosure. Where the ends of the bore areopen, air can be blown by a user through the utensil into the packageafter it has been opened, thereby helping to separate the walls of thepouch. To achieve this, one open end of the bore is preferably at oneend of the shaft, which is exposed when the package is opened, while theother open end of the bore is located near the other end of the shaft,which is held within the pouch.

Utensils of this form are believed to be novel. Thus, according toanother aspect of the disclosure there is provided a culinary utensilhaving a shaft with a longitudinal bore that is open at each end,whereby air may be blown through the bore into a package within whichthe utensil is, in use, contained.

In a related aspect, the disclosure provides a package comprising asealed flexible pouch containing a utensil having a shaft,

-   -   wherein the shaft has a longitudinal bore that is open at each        end, one end of the shaft being exposed when the pouch is, in        use, opened, whereby air may be blown through the bore into the        pouch. Blowing air through the bore into the pouch may assist in        the releasing of the vacuum to open the pouch.

In general, the features discussed above in relation to the first aspectof the disclosure are also applicable to these further aspects.

In all aspects of the disclosure, the pouch is preferably opened bytearing off a part of the pouch. The pouch preferably has formations tofacilitate tearing. For instance, notches or similar formations,typically V- or U-shaped, may be present at the sides of the pouch,and/or a line of weakness may be present across the pouch. Where thepouch is opened by tearing, one end of the utensil is preferably exposedby opening of the pouch, so that the utensil can easily be grasped, andwhere applicable air can be blown through the utensil, as also describedabove.

The package may be resealable after opening. In that case, the packagemay incorporate a sealing strip or the like that is exposed when thepouch is opened.

The package may comprise one or more utensils and optionally anadditional protector that is arranged to provide physical protection tothe food items, but is not intended to be released from the package andused to remove the food items from the package. Such an additionalprotector may simply be a stiffening rod or the like that is captivatedwithin the pouch even when the package is opened.

Where there are two or more utensils, they may be similar in form, forinstance a pair of chopsticks, or they may be complementary, eg a knifeand fork.

The pouch may be provided with a handle by which the pouch may be heldby a user. Such a handle may be formed integrally with the pouch, forexample being formed from the films that are used to form the walls ofthe pouch.

The pouch may be configured to facilitate the heating of the one or morefood items, though in many cases this may be unnecessary orinappropriate.

The pouch may comprise only two films or foils that are bonded together,eg by heat and/or pressure, at their periphery to form the walls of anenclosure. However, in other embodiments, the base of the pouch isformed by a gusset. That gusset may be of similar material to the filmused to form the walls of the pouch, or it may be of a differentmaterial. Thus, the pouch may comprise side walls connected at theirlower edges by a gusset that forms a base for the pouch. In such aconstruction, the base may be sufficiently flat that the pouch iscapable of standing upright upon the base. This may facilitate loadingof the food package into, and dispensing of the package from, aconventional vending machine. However, the distance between coiled loopsin a conventional vending machine may not accommodate a flat baseembodiment of a particular width and depth. In particular, the foodpackage may be inserted between the loops of a coil mechanismconventionally used in vending machines to transport selected productsforwards to a point at which they drop into a collection zone of thevending machine.

In a preferred embodiment, the gusset is of resilient material, whichmay be a plastics material of greater thickness than that of the walls.When the package is sealed and air is evacuated, such a gusset maydeform from its rest configuration. As soon as the reduced pressurewithin the pouch is released by opening of the package, however, theresilience of the gusset will cause it to return to its restconfiguration, and this will cause the walls of the pouch to separateand draw air into the pouch. This in turn releases the food itemscontained within pouch and makes them easier to remove from the pouch.The gusset, being of relatively thicker resilient material, confers adegree of rigidity on the base of the package, which may make it easierfor the user to hold the opened package. The gusset also provides asupportive surface against which the food items may be pressed by theutensil, thereby facilitating removal of those items from the pouch. Thegreater thickness of the gusset material reduces the likelihood of thegusset being pierced by the utensil.

In one or more embodiments the gusset may be configured to provide forshock absorption for the one or more food items when the base of thepouch is subject to an impact or an impulse.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may comprise: a first gusset corneradjacent to a first end of the gusset; and a second top corner spacedapart from a second end of the gusset and diagonally opposite the firstgusset corner, wherein respective ends of the utensil may be configuredto engage with the first gusset corner and the second top corner toreinforce the food package. The second top corner may be formed by anedge of the pouch and a sealing strip extending across the interior ofthe pouch. The utensil may be contained within a body portion of thepouch under the sealing strip.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may comprise an elastic materialconfigured to engage the first gusset corner and the second top cornersuch that the utensil is elastically deformed under a compressive forcewhereby the utensil may be configured to absorb shocks when the base ofthe pouch is subject to an impact or an impulse.

In one or more embodiments the gusset may be configured to provide acontainment barrier for containing a sharp utensil within the pouch. Thecontainment barrier may be a pocket.

Such a construction is also believed to be novel, and so the disclosurefurther provides a package comprising a sealed flexible pouch that issubstantially evacuated of air, the pouch comprising side walls and abase,

-   -   wherein the base is a resilient member, the resilient member        being deformed from its rest configuration when the package is        in a sealed condition, and the resilient member being arranged        to return to the rest configuration when the pouch is opened,        thereby drawing air into the pouch and causing the side walls of        the pouch to separate.

Furthermore, the provision of a base that is of thicker material in apackage containing food items is also believed to be novel. In anotheraspect, the disclosure therefore provides a package comprising a sealedflexible pouch containing one or more items of food, the pouchcomprising side walls and a base,

-   -   wherein the base is of greater thickness than the side walls.

The greater thickness of the base in this aspect of the disclosureoffers a number of significant advantages. The base, being of relativelythicker material, confers a degree of rigidity on the base of thepackage, which may make it easier for the user to hold the openedpackage. The base also provides a supportive surface against which thefood items may be pressed by a utensil, thereby facilitating removal ofthose items from the pouch. The greater thickness of the base materialreduces the likelihood of the base being pierced by a utensil, such as afork, so reducing the risk of injury to a user of the package. All thesebenefits contribute to the particularly convenient manner of use of thepackage of the disclosure, in which the items of food can be consumeddirect from the package, after the pouch has been opened, rather thanthe items of food being tipped out of the package onto a plate or thelike, and then consumed from that plate. Thus, the package mayeffectively be used as a portable bowl. Also, increased thickness orrigidity of the base may assist in standing of the food package upright,eg in a vending machine, as described above.

Typically, the side walls of the package will have thicknesses ofbetween 50 μm and 1 mm, more commonly less than 250 μm, or more than 100μm. In embodiments of the disclosure that have a base of greaterthickness than the side walls, as just described, the thickness of thebase may be greater than 400 μm, or greater than 1 mm, and typically upto 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm or 5 mm.

Again, in general, the features discussed above in relation to the firstaspect of the disclosure are also applicable to these further aspects.

As described above, the disclosure is particularly, though notexclusively useful in relation to the packaging of fresh fruit. Thus,the one or more food items may be pieces of fruit. The pieces of fruitmay be whole fruit items, particularly relatively small fruit items suchas a strawberries, or they may be cut pieces of fruit, eg slices orpieces of larger fruits such as apples or bananas.

The package according to the disclosure may be manufactured by generallyconventional vacuum-packing methods. Typically, such methods willinvolve positioning the food item(s) and the utensil within a pre-formedpouch, evacuating air from within the pouch, thereby drawing the wallsof the pouch together and holding the food item(s) and utensil in fixedpositions, and sealing the pouch. In some cases, the pouch is formedaround the food item(s) and utensil. For instance, the food item(s) andutensil may be positioned on a first film and overlaid with a secondfilm, the first and second films then being bonded together to form thepouch. Again, air is withdrawn from the pouch and the pouch is sealed.As described above, the pouch may additionally or alternatively beflushed with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, prior to sealing and/orevacuation, to reduce the amount of oxygen present in the package.

The package may contain a single item of fruit, such as a piece of abanana, or the package may contain a plurality of items of fruit.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may comprise a top portionconnected to a body portion by a frangible section and the sealing stripmay be positioned between the frangible section and the body portion.The sealing strip may comprise a reinforcing structure configured todeflect tears away from the body portion when the pouch is opened bytearing the frangible section.

In one or more embodiments the frangible section may be configured toenable the top portion to be completely separated from the body portionby tearing.

In one or more embodiments the sealing strip may be configured, suchthat when the pouch is opened and an inserted-utensil is partiallyinserted into the pouch. The sealing strip may be biased to grip theinserted-utensil in a static position.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may be disposed outside of thepouch.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may be enveloped in a protectivesachet.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may be attached to the outside ofthe pouch by adhesive material and/or a weld.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may be provided with a protectivesleeve disposed around at least a portion of a handle of the utensil.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may comprise antibacterialmaterial. The antibacterial material may be an antibacterial polymer.

In one or more embodiments the utensil may be 1.1 times the height ofthe pouch or the packaging, when the packaging is opened.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may comprise antibacterialmaterial. The antibacterial material may be an antibacterial polymer,for example, as in the case of the utensil.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may comprise a biodegradablematerial.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may further contain an apparatusconfigured to absorb ethylene. The apparatus may be an ethylene strip oran ethylene patch. Such an apparatus may advantageously slow down anyfruit ripening process that may occur when one or more of the food itemsis a piece of fruit since the apparatus may scrub ethylene gas from theinterior of the pouch.

In one or more embodiments the pouch may further contain a sealedcontainer of fluid.

The sealed container may be a sachet. The fluid may be a liquidcondiment, including milk, or a dressing, or a sauce, or a syrup, or agel, or any fluid comestible.

We disclose a medical package comprising a sealed flexible pouch and autensil, the pouch containing one or more medical items, wherein theinterior of the pouch is depleted of oxygen, and the one or more medicalitems are held in substantially fixed positions within the pouch,wherein the medical package is resealable after opening.

References herein to food items may equally refer to medical items.

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described in further detail below,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a food package accordingto the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the package in an opencondition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of a second embodiment of a foodpackage according to the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of a third embodiment of a foodpackage according to the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of a fourth embodiment of a foodpackage according to the disclosure:

FIG. 8 is a side view of the fourth embodiment of the food package ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a modified design thatmay be applied to a food package of the disclosure, when the package issealed;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the condition of thepackage after it has been opened;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package with a utensildisposed inside a pouch in engagement with diagonally opposed corners ofthe pouch, with the top corner below the sealing strip of the pouch;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package with a pouchcomprising a gusset and a utensil disposed inside a pouch;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package with afrangible section for opening the food package and a sealing strip forresealing the food package after opening;

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross-section of an opened food package with autensil partially inserted into the pouch and held in positon by asealing strip; and

FIG. 15 shows a schematic cross-section of a medical package containinga medical utensil and a plurality of medical items.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a food packageaccording to the disclosure is generally designated 1 and takes the formof a generally rectangular pouch. The package 1 is formed from first andsecond packaging films 10, 12 that are pressure- and/or heat-sealedtogether at their edges 18.

Food items, namely items of fruit 14, are held within the package 1,between the first film and the second film 12. The items of fruit 14 maybe, for instance, slices of larger fruits such as apples or bananas, orwhole pieces of smaller fruits such as strawberries. A fork 16 is alsoheld between the first and second films 10, 12.

The first and second films 10, 12 are typically of food grade plasticsmaterial. However, in other examples of the disclosure, the first andsecond films 10, 12 may be of other suitable materials, for instancemetal films or plastics/metal laminate or the like. In general,materials for use in forming the package of the disclosure will be thoseconventionally used for the vacuum-packing of foodstuffs, being flexiblefilms that are sufficiently impermeable to air and which can be bondedtogether to form airtight enclosures.

In the process of manufacture of the package 1, the fork 16 and items offruit 14 are placed on the first film 10, and overlaid by the secondfilm 12. The first and second films 10, 12 are sealed together aroundthe edge 18 of the films 10, 12, with the space between the first andsecond films being substantially completely evacuated, so that there islittle or no air in the interior of the package 1. This has the effectof vacuum-packing the fork 16 and items of fruit 14 into a package, thefilms 10, 12 fitting closely around the fork 16 and the items of fruit14, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The sides of the package 1 are provided, close to the upper (as viewedin FIG. 1) end of the package 1, with a pair of V-shaped notches 20, 21.The notches 20, 21 facilitate opening of the package 1 by a usergrasping the upper part of the package 1 and tearing it off, along aline between the notches 20, 21. The opened package 1 is shown in FIG.4. The process of opening the package 1 may be further facilitated by aline of weakness extending between the notches 20, 21 being formed inthe package 1 during manufacture. Means by which such a line of weaknessmay be created are known and will be familiar to those skilled in theart.

The fork 16 is a suitable size for consuming the contents of the packet.Other utensils may be used instead of or in addition to a fork, forexample a knife, spoon, or a pair of chopsticks. The fork 16 is of arigid plastics material; however, in other embodiments the fork may beof another material, eg metal or wood. The fork 16 is positionedlengthways in the package, with the items of fruit 14 being adjacent tothe fork. The fork 16 reinforces the package 1, protecting the fruit 14from being damaged, for example when the package 1 falls to thecollection area in a vending machine.

The shaft of the fork 16 is of generally rectangular section (see FIG.2), with an internal bore 22 that extends from the upper (as viewed inFIG. 1) end of the fork 16 and terminates at an opening 24 close to thetines of the fork 16.

When the package 1 is torn open, as described above and as shown in FIG.4, the tip of the shaft of the fork 16 protrudes slightly from thepackage 1. The user can then place the tip of the fork to their lips andblow gently through the fork 16 to separate the first and second films10, 12. This then allows the fork 16 to be easily removed from thepackage 1 so that it can be used to remove the fruit items 14 from thepackage 1.

The first and second films 10, 12 have a dimpled, laser etched, oruneven texture on their juxtaposed surfaces. The uneven surfaces of thefilms 10, 12 reduce the area of contact between them and make the firstand second films 10, 12 easier to separate when the package 1 is opened.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a food package according to thedisclosure, generally designated 2. The package 2 is similar to thepackage 1 of the first embodiment, however the package 2 contains only asingle item of fruit, namely one half of a peeled banana 25, along witha fork 26 that is identical to the fork 16 of the first embodiment. Thepackage 2 also comprises a stiffener 27, which is a plastic rod. Thestiffener 27 is located between the first and second films of thepackage, on an opposing side of the banana 25 to the fork 26.

The package is sealed around the edges 28, the space between the firstand second films being substantially completely evacuated. The packageis also sealed around the stiffener 27, in order that the stiffener 27is separated from the fork 26 and banana 25. When the package 2 is tornopen, in the same manner as the first embodiment 1, the stiffener 27remains sealed in place.

Fresh bananas, especially when peeled, have a particularly shortshelf-life and are particularly prone to physical damage. The package 2,from which air is substantially completely evacuated, and in which thefork 26 and the stiffener 27 provide protection to the banana 25 fromdamage caused by physical contact, mitigates these problemssubstantially. As a result, fresh bananas may be presented in thisformat in vending machines, or in other situations in which that wouldnot hitherto have been feasible, for example in airline catering.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a food package according to thedisclosure, generally designated 3. The package 3 is similar to thepackage 1 shown in FIG. 1. However package 3 also comprises a handle 32,which is made of the same material as the films of the package. Thehandle 32 is C-shaped and is attached to a side of the package 3. Thehandle 32 may be formed integrally with the package 3, for instancebeing formed by extensions of the films of the package that are bondedtogether. The handle 32 enables the package 3 to be held in the mannerof a mug or cup, further facilitating the removal of food items from thepackage 3.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of a food package according tothe disclosure, generally designated 4. Like the third embodiment 3, thefourth embodiment of the food package 4 is broadly similar to the firstembodiment 1. The package 4 differs from the first embodiment 1,however, in that it comprises a strap 34, which is attached at its endsto one face of the package 4. The strap 34 acts as a handle that may begripped by a user in order to hold onto the package whilst eating thecontents of the package.

Finally, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a design modification that may beincorporated into any of the embodiments of a food package according tothe disclosure described above (or into other forms of food package).The modification concerns the structure of the base of the package (iethe lower part of a package such as that shown in FIG. 1).

In the first embodiment 1 described above, and as illustrated in FIG. 1,the base of the package is formed simply by sealing together the twofilms 10, 12 that are used to form the package 1. In the modificationillustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, however, a flexible base component orgusset 51 is interposed between, and bonded to, the bottom edges of thefilms 52, 53 that are the major components of the package. The gusset 51is resilient, typically being formed from the same or a differentplastics material that is of greater thickness than the films 52, 53.

The gusset 51 is generally flat in form. However, when the package isfilled, evacuated and sealed, the gusset 51 is bowed into theconfiguration shown in FIG. 9. In this configuration, the films 52, 53are drawn into close engagement with the fork (indicated schematicallyas 54) and with the food items contained within the package (not shown).

As soon as the package is opened, ie when the vacuum within the packageis released, the resilience of the gusset 51 causes it to relax to theconfiguration shown in FIG. 10. This draws air into the package, andcauses the films 52, 53 to separate, releasing the fork 54 and fooditems contained within the package, which will then generally fall tothe bottom of the package and rest upon the gusset 51.

The gusset 51, being of relatively thicker resilient material, confers adegree of rigidity on the base of the package, which may make it easierfor the user to hold the opened package. The gusset 51 also provides asupportive surface against which the food items may be pressed by thefork 54, thereby facilitating piercing of those items by the fork 54.The thicker nature of the gusset 51 also reduces any risk of the gusset51 itself being pierced by the fork 54, thereby reducing the risk ofinjury to the user of the package.

With this modification, other measures intended to facilitate opening ofthe package, such as the dimpled or uneven texture of the films or theprovision of a hollow bore within the fork to enable air to be blowninto the package by the user, may be unnecessary.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package 1100 in whichthe pouch 1102 has a base 1104 with a first corner 1106 and a top 1110with a second corner 1108 diagonally opposite the first corner 1106. Thepouch 1102 contains a utensil 1120, with a distal end 1122 and aproximal end 1124. The distal end 1122 may be configured to engage oneor more of the plurality of food items 1130 a-c. The proximal end 1124may provide a handle for manipulation by a user. The pouch 1102 alsocontains a plurality of food items 1130 a, 1130 b. 1130 c. The distal1122 and proximal 1124 ends of the utensil 1120 are configured to engagewith the first corner 1106 and the second corner 1108 respectively toreinforce the food package 1100. This reinforcement may provideadvantageous structural strength and rigidity to the food package 1100,which may enable the food package 1100 to sustain impacts, such as beingdropped within a vending machine, that may otherwise damage one or moreof the plurality of food items 1130 a, 1130 b, 1130 c.

In this example, the utensil 1120 is disposed inside the pouch 1102,such that engagement between the respective ends 1122, 1124 of theutensil 1120 and the first 1106 and second 1108 corners of the pouch1102 occurs because the utensil 1120 is sized to fit snugly along a maindiagonal of the pouch 1102. It will be appreciated that where the pouch1102 has a substantially rectangular form, the appropriate length ofutensil 1120 may be computed from a height and a width of the pouch 1102using Pythagoras' theorem.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package 1200 with agusset 1240 that makes up a base 1204 of the food package 1200. The foodpackage 1200 contains a utensil 1220 and a plurality of food items 1230a, 1230 b, 1230 c. The gusset 1240 is formed to provide for shockabsorption for the one or more of the plurality of food items 1230 a-cwhen the base 1204 of the pouch 1202 is subject to an impact. Such animpact may occur when the food package 1200 is dropped within a vendingmachine. Any part of the gusset 1240 may elastically deform in responseto the impact, to absorb the shock of the impact, and thereby ensurethat a much smaller impulse is experienced by one or more of the fooditems 1230 a-c than would otherwise occur.

The gusset 1240 may be slightly raised within the pouch 1320. The pouch1320 may stand, or be supported, on a peripheral circumferential edge ofthe base of the pouch 1320. The cross-section shown in FIG. 12 showsthat the gusset 1240 has a first end 1242 and a second end 1244, whichmay form part of the peripheral circumferential edge of the base of thepouch 1320 on which the weight of the food package 1300 may be supportedwhen standing upright on a substantially level surface.

In this example, the food package 1200 also has a first gusset corner1206 adjacent to the first end of the gusset 1242 and a second topcorner 1208 spaced apart from the second end of the gusset 1244 anddiagonally opposite the first gusset corner 1206. The first gussetcorner 1206 provides a pocket for retaining the utensil 1220. Respectiveends of the utensil 1220 are configured to engage with the first gussetcorner 1206 and the second top corner 1208 to reinforce the food package1200, in a manner similar to that already described in relation to FIG.11. In this way, the elasticity of the gusset 1240, together with theresilience of the utensil 1220 may synergistically improve the shockabsorbing capabilities of the food package 1200.

In some examples (not shown), a food package of the present disclosuremay have a gusset configured to provide a containment barrier forcontaining a sharp or pointed utensil, such as a knife or a fork, withinthe pouch. The containment barrier may comprise thicker material thanthe rest of the pouch. This containment effect may be provided while thefood package is in transit or storage, but may also provide anadvantageous containment effect when the food package is in use by auser. For example, the gusset may be sufficiently resilient to enable auser to support the food package in one hand while spearing food itemswithin the pouch with a sharp utensil without puncturing the gusset.Thereby, the user may avoid puncturing their hand as it supports thefood package in use.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package 1300 includinga pouch 1302. To improve the clarity of the disclosure, food itemscontained within the pouch 1302 are not shown. The pouch 1302 has a topportion 1310 connected to a body portion 1312 by a frangible section1314. The frangible section 1314 may comprise a line of weakness with vshaped notches at opposite ends of the frangible section 1314 for easeof opening at both ends. A sealing strip 1320 is provided inside thepouch 1302, such that the sealing strip 1320 is positioned between thefrangible section 1314 and the body portion 1312. The sealing strip 1320consists of a reinforcing structure that can deflect tears away from thebody portion 1312 when the pouch 1302 is opened by tearing the frangiblesection 1314. For example, if a user starts to tear the frangiblesection 1314 and a tear begins to propagate out of the frangible section1314 towards the body portion 1312, then the sealing strip 1320 maydeflect the tear back towards the frangible section 1314. In this way,the body portion 1312 of the pouch 1302 may be protected from unwanteddamage when the food package 1300 is opened by a user. Thereby, theopened package may still be resealed to keep the remaining contentsfresh once the user has consumed an initial portion of food items.

In some examples, the frangible section 1314 may further comprise apermanent seal, such as a weld or section of adhesive provided topermanently seal the pouch 1302 until the frangible section 1314 isremoved. Between the permanent seal and the sealing strip 1320 there maybe provided a line of weakness with V shaped tear notches at both endsof the line of weakness on opposing sides of the pouch 1302, configuredto facilitate opening the food package 1300. In other examples (notshown) a permanent seal may instead, or additionally, be provided abovethe frangible section 1314, that is, one the opposite side of thefrangible section 1314 compared to the sealing strip 1320.

The food package 1300 also comprises a utensil 1330 contained, in thisexample, within the pouch 1302. The opposite ends 1332, 1334 of theutensil 1330 are configured to engage with a diagonally opposite cornersof the pouch 1302, in a manner similar to that disclosed above inrelation to the food package of FIGS. 11 and 12. However, in thisexample, the proximal end 1334 of the utensil 1330 is engaged with atop-corner 1308 formed between and edge of the pouch 1302 and thesealing strip 1320. In this way, the utensil 1330 may provide the shockabsorbing and rigidity promoting functionality described above, whilestill enabling the sealing strip 1320 to be sealed within the pouch1302. Thereby, the pouch may comprise two or more seals, provided by thesealing strip 1320 and a permanent seal, either within or above thefrangible section 1314, that may advantageously secure the contents ofthe pouch 1302 before a user opens the food package 1300.

It will be appreciated that, when the food package of FIG. 12 isprovided with a sealing strip, similar to that of FIG. 13, a utensil mayengage a top corner formed between the edge of the pouch and an end ofthe sealing strip, such that the utensil may be contained within a bodyportion of the pouch underneath the sealing strip.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross-section of a food package 1400, similarto that shown in FIG. 13, which has been opened by complete removal of atop portion (not shown). The food package 1400 has a pouch 1402 thatincorporates a sealing strip 1420 that is exposed when the pouch 1402 isopened. The sealing strip 1420 is configured to enable the opened foodpackage 1400 to be resealed after the food package 1400 has been opened.The sealing strip 1420 may itself be opened to enable the user to accessremaining food items (not shown) contained within the pouch, and thenresealed to keep unconsumed items, which are still within the pouch, ina fresh condition. The sealing strip 1420 may enable the pouch 1402 tobe opened and resealed a plurality of times. In some examples, thesealing strip 1420 may comprise interlocking engagement members withcomplementary shapes that may be interlocked to provide a seal. In someexamples, the sealing strip may comprise an adhesive strip or stripsconfigured to provide a seal by adhering to respective sides of thejuxtaposed surfaces of the pouch. By resealing the pouch 1402 afterconsuming an initial helping of food items, the remaining contents mayadvantageously be kept in better condition, for subsequent consumption,that would be the case if the pouch was not resealed.

FIG. 14 also shows an inserted-utensil 1430 that has been partiallyinserted into the pouch 1402 below the level of the sealing strip 1420.The inserted-utensil 1430 may be an example of a utensil provided as anintegral part of the food package 1400 or may be any other suitableutensil. The sealing strip 1420 is configured such that the sealingstrip 1420 is biased to grip the inserted-utensil 1430 in a staticposition. That is, the sealing strip 1420, in this example, naturallypulls the juxtaposed surfaces of the pouch together such that it cangrip an inserted-utensil 1430 and hold it in an immobile position. Thisadvantageously enables the user to let go of the inserted-utensil 1430without it either dropping into the pouch 1402 entirely or falling outof the pouch 1402 entirely, and potentially falling to the ground. Inthis way, the sealing strip advantageously holds the inserted-utensil1430 in a position where it is ready for use, while reducing thelikelihood of any part of the inserted-utensil 1430 becoming soiled.

It will be appreciated that the utensil may be provided either insidethe pouch of a food package of the present disclosure, or may beprovided outside of the pouch of a food package of the presentdisclosure.

Where a utensil is provided outside of the pouch, it may be contained ina separate envelope or sachet to maintain the utensil is a clean and/orsterile condition until it is required for use. The utensil may beattached to the exterior of the pouch by any suitable means such asadhesive materials or welding, or alternatively where appropriate, anenvelope containing the utensil may be attached to the exterior of thepouch by any such suitable means. In this way, the utensil may stillprovide improved structural strength and/or rigidity, and/or shockabsorbing capabilities to the food package, as described above inrelation to utensils provided inside of the pouch.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic cross-section of a medical package 1500 whichincludes a pouch 1502. The medical package 1500 may share any of thecharacteristics and/or functionality of the food packages describedabove, except that the medical package 1500 contains medical items 1530,1532 instead of food items. In this example, the pouch 1502 contains amedical utensil 1520. The medical utensil 1520 may be pair of forceps ortongs, suitable for manipulating medical items or devices, or any othertype of medical utensil without restriction. Medical items 1530, 1532may include, for example, a medical dressing, a medical disinfectantwipe, a medical swab or any other type of medical supply, which mayadvantageously be manipulated with the medical utensil 1520 once thepouch 1502 has been opened.

As described above in relation to food packages, the medical package1500 may be resealable after opening. The pouch 1502 may be depleted ofoxygen and the medical utensil 1520 and medical items 1530, 1532 may beheld in substantially fixed positions within the pouch 1502. In otherexamples, the medical utensil 1520 may instead be provided outside ofthe pouch 1502.

The medical package 1500 may be made from antibacterial materials, suchas an antibacterial polymer. Use of a resealable, and optionallyantibacterial, pouch 1502 may enable medical items to be stored inbetter condition, for future use, after the medical package 1500 hasbeen opened than would otherwise be possible.

Generally, packages of the present disclosure may be provided in theform of a stand-up pouch that is manufactured from an anti-bacterialmaterial. The inner surfaces of the pouch may be configured to be indirect contact with the contents of the pouch, in order to reduce orinhibit bacterial growth that may occur in food items and also to reduceor inhibit bacterial contamination for non-food items (such as platersor surgical gauze), when the packaging is opened.

For food packages the sealing strip may have at least two functions; thefirst would be to reseal the pouch after consumption of all or part ofthe contents; and the second would be to protect the contents fromexternal contamination and to ensure that the anti-bacterial innersurfaces of the pouch remains in-contact with the surface of the fooditems. Re-sealing is of particular importance as the pouch mayincorporate a utensil (such as a fork) to facilitate user access to thefood contents of the pouch. The re-sealability of the pouch would alsoenable the partial or intermittent consumption of the contents of thepouch.

When the utensil enters the user's mouth it may become contaminated withbacteria from the mouth and therefore when re-introducing the utensilinto the pouch it may increase the risk of bacterial contamination.However, the inner anti-bacterial surfaces of the pouch maysignificantly assist in reducing the potential risk of contamination tothe food contents that may otherwise occur. Similar advantages may alsobe provided in relation to medical packages comprising medical items.

1. A food package comprising a sealed flexible pouch and a utensil, thepouch containing one or more food items, wherein the pouch contains theutensil held in a substantially fixed position within the pouch, and thepouch comprises a base with a first corner and a top with a secondcorner diagonally opposite the first corner, wherein respective ends ofthe utensil are engaged with the first and second corners, respectively,to reinforce the food package, wherein the food package is resealableafter opening.
 2. The food package of claim 1, wherein the interior ofthe pouch is depleted of oxygen, and the one or more food items are heldin substantially fixed positions within the pouch.
 3. A food packageaccording to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises first and second filmsthat are sealed together at their periphery.
 4. A food package accordingto claim 3, wherein juxtaposed surfaces of the first and second filmshave a dimpled or uneven texture, or are laser-etched.
 5. A food packageaccording to claim 3, wherein the films are of plastics material.
 6. Afood package according to claim 1, wherein the utensil is a rigidcomponent.
 7. A food package according to claim 1, wherein respectiveends of the utensil are engaged with the first and second corners,respectively, to reinforce the food package, because the utensil issized to fit snugly along a main diagonal of the pouch between the firstcorner and the second corner.
 8. A food package according to claim 1,wherein the utensil is a culinary utensil by which the one or more fooditems may be removed from the package after the package has been openedin use.
 9. A food package according to claim 1, wherein the utensil is afork, spoon, cocktail stick or chopstick.
 10. A food package accordingto claim 1, wherein the utensil has a bore, one end of which is exposedwhen the package is opened in use, whereby air may be blown into thepackage to facilitate subsequent removal of the one or more food items.11. A food package according to claim 1, wherein the package furthercomprises an additional protector held in a substantially fixed positionwithin the pouch.
 12. A food package according to claim 11, wherein theadditional protector is a stiffening rod.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The foodpackage of claim 1, wherein a base of the pouch is formed by a gusset ofresilient material.
 15. The food package of claim 14, wherein the gussetis configured to provide for shock absorption for the one or more fooditems when the base of the pouch is subject to an impact.
 16. The foodpackage of claim 15, wherein the pouch comprises: a first gusset corneradjacent to a first end of the gusset; and a second top corner spacedapart from a second end of the gusset and diagonally opposite the firstgusset corner, wherein respective ends of the utensil are configured toengage with the first gusset corner and the second top corner toreinforce the food package.
 17. The food package of claim 14, whereinthe gusset is configured to provide a containment barrier for containinga sharp utensil within the pouch.
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled) 20.(canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. (canceled)25. (canceled)
 26. A food package according to claim 1, wherein thesealed flexible pouch is substantially evacuated of air, the pouchcomprising side walls and a base, and wherein the base is a resilientmember, the resilient member being deformed from its rest configurationwhen the package is in a sealed condition, and the resilient memberbeing arranged to return to the rest configuration when the pouch isopened, thereby drawing air into the pouch and causing the side walls ofthe pouch to separate.
 27. A food package according to claim 1, whereinthe sealed flexible pouch comprises side walls and a base, and whereinthe base is of greater thickness than the side walls.
 28. The foodpackage of claim 1, wherein the food package incorporates a sealingstrip that is exposed when the pouch is opened.
 29. The food package ofclaim 28, wherein the pouch comprises a top portion connected to a bodyportion by a frangible section and the sealing strip is positionedbetween the frangible section and the body portion, the sealing stripcomprising a reinforcing structure configured to deflect tears away fromthe body portion when the pouch is opened by tearing the frangiblesection.
 30. (canceled)
 31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled)
 33. (canceled) 34.(canceled)
 35. (canceled)
 36. (canceled)
 37. (canceled)